Using Your Windows 10 PC If You've Never Used a Computer Before

If you’ve just purchased your first PC, there’s a lot to learn, especially when it comes to using the Windows operating system. This chapter from My Windows 10 Computer for Seniors is for those of you just starting out with your first PC.

This chapter is from the book

In this chapter, you find out how to turn on and start using a new Windows 10 computer.

Powering Up and Powering Down

Finding Your Way Around Windows

Many people our age have used computers before and have probably owned at least one PC over the years—but not everyone is an experienced computer user. If you’ve just purchased your first PC, there’s a lot to learn—especially when it comes to using the Windows operating system.

This chapter, then, is for those of you just starting out with your first PC. If you’re a more experienced user, feel free to skip ahead to Chapter 4, “Using Your Windows 10 PC—If You’ve Used Windows Before”; otherwise, read on to learn how to get started with your new computer and Windows 10.

Powering Up and Powering Down

If you’ve already read Chapter 1, “Understanding Computer Basics,” you’ve learned how to connect all the components of your new computer system. Now that you have everything connected, it’s time to turn everything on.

Booting Up

Technical types call the procedure of starting up a computer booting or booting up the system. Restarting a system (turning it off and then back on) is called rebooting.

Turn On and Configure Your New PC—For the First Time

The first time you power up your new PC, you’re led through an initial setup and configuration process so that you can get Windows ready to use.

Your computer is the last thing you turn on in your system, after all other connected devices. That’s because when it powers on, it has to sense all the other components—which it can do only if the other components are plugged in and turned on.

When you see the Get Going Fast screen, click Use Express Settings. (You can click Customize Settings to configure each setting separately, but the Express Settings work best for most users.)

Wireless Network

If any wireless networks are available, the installation process prompts you to select your network from the list; do so and then click Connect. If no network is available, select Connect to a Wireless Network Later. Learn more about connecting wirelessly in Chapter 11, “Connecting to the Internet—at Home or Away.”

You may be prompted to use a personal identification number (PIN) to sign in to your PC rather than a traditional password. This is more secure than entering a password, and may be easier for some people. If you want to do this, click PIN Me! and follow the onscreen instructions. Otherwise, click Skip This Step.

If you are prompted to set up Cortana, Windows 10’s virtual personal assistant, click Next and follow the onscreen instructions.

Windows now continues the installation process, sets up your default apps (short for applications), and then displays the desktop.

>>>Go Further: Windows Accounts

The first time you power up a new PC, you’re asked to perform some basic setup operations, including activating and registering Windows and configuring your system for your personal use. Part of this process involves creating a user account for this computer.

You use your email address to create the new user account. If you don’t have an existing email address (or don’t want to use it, for some reason or another), Microsoft lets you create a new email account at the same time you’re activating Windows.

Learn more about user accounts, passwords, and the like in Chapter 6, “Personalizing Windows.”

Turn On Your System—Normally

Each subsequent time you turn on your computer, you go through pretty much the same routine—but without the initial configuration steps.

Turn Off Your Computer

How you turn off your PC depends on what type of computer you have. If you have a notebook or tablet model, you can press the unit’s power (on/off) button—although that typically will put your PC into Sleep mode, not turn it all the way off. The better approach is to shut down your system through Windows.

Click the Start button at the far left side of the taskbar to display the Start menu.

Click Power to display the submenu of options.

Click Shut Down.

Sleep Mode

If you’re using a notebook PC, Windows includes a special Sleep mode that keeps your computer running in a low-power state, ready to start up quickly when you open the lid or turn it on again. You can enter Sleep mode from the Power Options menu—or, with many notebook PCs, by pressing the unit’s power button.